Viewpoint Papers

The deliberations of the Commission on 2020 Public Services were supported by a broad research programme with diverse inputs, including major quantitative and qualitative studies and peer reviewed theoretical articles.‘Viewpoint’ papers are occasional thought pieces produced to bring fresh perspectives to bear on public problems.The views expressed are those of the authors.

How Should We Measure Public Sector Performance

James Dicker

Publication: November 2010

How do we measure public sector performance? How can we be sure that apparent improvements are actually a case of improved performance and are not simply ‘statistical improvements’ or measurement errors? As public services face the challenge of delivering the outcomes that citizens most value with shrinking public resources, the question of measurement has become more urgent than ever.The author argues for an approach that minimises the risk of gaming and is broad enough to include the ‘difficult to count’ areas in which value is often produced.

Why Localism Now? What Are The Principles for a New Localised Model of Public Services?

Anna Randle

Publication: November 2010

Localism is arguably the most promised and least delivered political idea of recent years. Attractive to governments, opposition parties, think tanks and policy experts, versions of localism have been discussed, examined, proposed, rejected and, in some cases, tried in a seemingly endless round of reports, commissions, inquiries, and green and white papers.This paper examines recent arguments and initiatives, the barriers to their full implementation, and the outstanding opportunities for reform.

The Challenge of Reforming Welfare State Institutions

Charlotte Alldritt

Publication: November 2010

Our key welfare institutions have been extremely resilient.The author argues that the very nature and design of welfare institutions means that their resistence to reform is not striking, but largely to be expected. Actors typically adapt within existing norms and structures unless there is a compelling cause for paradigmatic challenge.

The state needs to be smaller. This is the conclusion not of the coalition government, but of a cross-party group of politicians and experts on the RSA’s 2020 Public Services Trust, whose final report is out soon.